Ubayda ibn al-Harith

Not to be confused with Ubadah ibn al-Samit.
Ubayda ibn al-Harith
عبيدة بن الحارث
Born
ʿUbayda ibn al-Ḥārith

c. 562 CE
Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia (present-day KSA)
Died13 March 624(624-03-13) (aged 61–62) 17 Ramadan, 2 AH.
Badr, Hejaz, Arabia
Cause of deathDied from the wounds received in the Battle of Badr
Known forBeing a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Being the first martyr of Islam in a battlefield
SpouseZaynab bint Khuzayma
FamilyBanu Muttalib (Quraish)

ʿUbayda ibn al-Ḥārith (Arabic: عبيدة بن الحارث) (c. 562 – 13 March 624) was a relative[1] and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is known for commanding the expedition in which Islam’s first arrow was shot[1][2] and for being the first Muslim to be martyred in battle and third ever in Islam.[3][4]

Family

Ubaydah was the son of al-Harith ibn Muttalib ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy,[5]: 116 [6]: 36  hence a first cousin of Muhammad and nephew of Muhammad’s father Abdullah and of his uncles Abu Talib and Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib. His mother, Sukhayla bint Khuza'i ibn Huwayrith ibn al-Harith ibn Khaythama ibn al-Harith ibn Malik ibn Jusham ibn Thaqif, was from the Thaqif tribe. He had two full brothers, al-Tufayl and al-Husayn, who were more than twenty years younger than himself.

By various concubines, he was the father of nine children: Muawiya, Awn, Munqidh, al-Harith, Ibrahim, Rabta, Khadija, Suhaykhla, and Safiya.[6]: 36  He had no children by his only known legal wife, Zaynab bint Khuzayma.

Ubaydah's appearance is described as "medium, swarthy, with a handsome face."[6]: 36 

Conversion to Islam

Ubaydah became a Muslim before Muhammad entered the house of al-Arqam in 614.[6]: 36  His name is twelfth on Ibn Ishaq's list of people who accepted Islam at the invitation of Abu Bakr.[5]: 116 

In 622, Ubaydah and his brothers, together with their young cousin Mistah ibn Uthatha, joined the general emigration to Medina.[6]: 36  They boarded with Abdullah ibn Salama in Quba[5]: 218  until Muhammad allotted them some land in Medina. Muhammad gave Ubaydah two brothers in Islam: Abu Bakr's freedman Bilal ibn Rabah and an ansar named Umayr ibn Al-Humam.[6]: 36–37 

Military expeditions

Main article: List of expeditions of Muhammad
Main article: Expedition of Ubaydah ibn al-Harith

Some say that Ubaydah was the first to whom Muhammad gave a banner on a military expedition; others say Hamza was the first.[6]: 37 

In April 623, Muhammad sent Ubaydah with a party of sixty armed Muhajirun to the valley of Rabigh. They expected to intercept a Quraysh caravan that was returning from Syria under the protection of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and 200 armed riders.[5]: 218 [6]: 37 [7][8][9] The Muslim party travelled as far as the wells at Thanyat al-Murra,[5]: 281 [8] where Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas shot an arrow at the Quraysh, said to be the first arrow shot in Islam.[5]: 281 [10][7] Despite this surprise attack, "they did not unsheathe a sword or approach one another," and the Muslims returned empty-handed.[6]: 37 [7][8]

Death

Ubaydah was killed in the battle of Badr in 624 in triple combat against Shaybah ibn Rabi'ah, who cut off his leg. Although he was the first Muslim to be struck down at Badr, he survived his injury for several hours, so the first Muslims who actually died in the battle were Umar’s freedman Mihja’ and Haritha ibn Suraqa.[5]: 300  It is alleged that Ubaydah composed poetry while he was dying:

You may cut off my leg, yet I am a Muslim.
I hope in exchange for a life near to Allah,
with Houris fashioned like the most beautiful statues,
with the highest heaven for those who mount there...[5]: 349 

He died at al-Safra, a day's march from Badr, and was buried there.[6]: 37 

Following his tragic death, his widow Zaynab was married by Muhammad himself.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Razwy, Sayed Ali Asgher. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims. p. 128.
  2. ^ Muir, Sir William (1877). The Life of Mohammed. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Razwy, Sayed Ali Asgher. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims. p. 136.
  4. ^ Waqidi, Kitab al-Maghazi. Translated by Faizer, R., Ismail, A., & Tayob, A. (2011). The Life of Muhammad, pp. 36, 73. Oxford: Routledge.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Muhammad ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir Volume 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
  7. ^ a b c Haykal, M. H. (1935). Translated by al-Faruqi, I. R. A. (1976). The Life of Muhammad, p. 256. Chicago: North American Trust Publications.
  8. ^ a b c Mubarakpuri, S. R. (1979). Ar-Raheeq Al-Maktum (The Sealed Nectar), p. 92. Riyadh: Darussalem Publishers.
  9. ^ Hawarey, Mosab (2010). The Journey of Prophecy; Days of Peace and War (Arabic). Islamic Book Trust. ISBN 9789957051648.Note: Book contains a list of battles of Muhammad in Arabic, English translation available here
  10. ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:74
  11. ^ Ibn Hisham note 918.